windscreen thoughts

[mudlva]

hi all

im building mudlva2 and thinking about windscreens

im using a L/C 73/74 series front and tub/cab section with the rear cut into a tray deck.
it is entirely off road only and transported

the thoughts are on using the current frame and screen
or
using a flat piece of glass siliconed to a piece a sheet metal frame riveted to the roll cage

pros and cons
L/C sceen
pro-current frame will be easy and is already here.
con-roll cage will need to be built around the A pillar to protect against trees and rocks etc. it will be harder to get cross bracing on the roll cage A pillar as well

roll cage screen
pro- cage can become narrower and taper in more allowing for better tilt/over angles
easier to cross brace
con- flat screen can catch the sun and completely blind the crew, booth in the vehicle and those around it as well
-it may not look as "nice" as o.e.

thoughts and opinions please

regards Rohan

[kbushnz]

What about finding a vehicle which has a screen small enough to fit in the space you want to run your cage and attach/incorporate its frame in the cage...
Then you can have a factory screen attached using factory seals...
It could be outta any car !
Just pick something as common as muck....So when you smash a screen its easy to find and replace.

[crazyclark31]

reckon it would break really easy if it was mounted to the cage directly. If you took a hit on the cage say sliding into a bank it would move enough to cause the glass to twist/move enough to break it. Also flat glass splinters badly when it break in that situation so would be dangerous if you rolled. Toughened glass would stop that but it only takes the slightest tap/rub on the edge and it shatters completly.
Reckon your best bet is to stay with the factory screen. Be less hassle in the long run and glass wise waayyyy safer

[Crash bandicoot]

mount the glass in a frame of its own then mount it to the roll cage with rubber mounts. this will negate the transfer of shock to the glass.

[mudlva]

mount the glass in a frame of its own then mount it to the roll cage with rubber mounts. this will negate the transfer of shock to the glass.

this was sort of what i was thinking...

and following calvins idea of getting a cheap windscreen from out of a smaller car possibly

althu a std sheet of toughened glass would proberly be a similar price

cheers for all of your comments

[H2OLOVA]

Toughened glass is alot stronger than the laminated glass that windscreens are made of. The downside is that if you break one it will completely shatter and you'll have no screen at all. Its also takes up to a week to have one made cause once it goes through the toughening process it cannot be cut or shaped at all.
Laminated glass is good in the fact that while it is easier to break it will remain intact. You can cut it from a sheet in no time.
Cost wise they are similar with toughened being a bit cheaper but theres not alot in it. Flat laminate or factory windscreens would be similar prices to but i'd say a factory screen would be cheaper and they are readily available.
Both toughened and laminated glass are available tinted so sunstrike isn't a major worry. Being laminated you could cut and alter a factory screen if you needed to so you do have options.
If you do go with the sheetmetal frame idea make sure is is well braced as laminated glasss doesn't like to flex to much.